It has taken almost a year since I started this process, but I am now pleased to announce a new place to play bridge is coming to Atlanta. The Bridge Club of Atlanta will be opening September 4, 2012 in the Fountain Oaks Shopping Center. We are located on Roswell Road, about 1 and 1/2 miles south of I-285.
This will be Atlanta’s Club. Please feel free to make any suggestions or comments about what you want to see in a new club.
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Register now. I have posted my January 2012 Class Schedule. You can register for a six week series of classes for $100 or take individual classes for $20, space permitting.
Temple Sinai classes are limited in space; send your check in now to reserve a space.
Looking to relax and get away from the madness of the holidays. Book your Winter Bridge Retreat and head down to Calloway Gardens for some fun. Patty Tucker and I are hosting a 3 day bridge getaway in January. Classes will be held for both advanced beginners and intermediate/advanced students. Play in the nightly bridge games. We will offer both social games and duplicate games. For full details download the PDF Flyer here.
The holidays are coming up and I have been asked what gifts I would reccomend for the bridge player.
Software
If you have used Pat Harrington’s CDs and are looking for more CDs to help learn bridge I would suggest Bridge Master 2000, the Audrey Grant edition. This is similiar to Pat Harrington’s CDs and is suited for the beginner.
For more advanced players who want to learn conventions I would reccomend the Learn and Practice Bidding Conventions, basic conventions.
For other suggestions I would reccomend any software by Mike Lawrence or Larry Cohen. You can see a wide variety of their programs at www.baronbarclay.com
Books
For advanced beginners looking to improve their judgement, I like Bridge with Bells and Whistles. This book will improve your bidding.
For advanced students looking for conventions I like 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Barbara Seagram.
Seminars
There are rumors of a 3 day bridge seminar scheduled in Georgia for the end of January. As soon as details are finalized I will report them here.
I had a good time at the Charlotte Regional last weekend. We came in second in a KO and 4th in the Swiss. It is always nice when you have good partners and teammates. Thanks to Mike Kovacich and the Feagins for a good time. We lost the finals of the KO on a decision I had to make.
I was North and held 
6 
QJ 
KQ632 
A10843
The auction went
East South West North
3 Double 4 ?
I chose to bid 4NT for the minors. Partner bid 5 and I passed. Unfortunately 6 was cold. At the other table the auction started with 1 and our opponents were able to bid the slam.
On Sunday in the Swiss our opponents got to a grand in only 2 bids, a rare sight.
Dealer opened 3 and her partner had
— AKQ10xxx AQxx Ax
She raised directly to 7. She knew her partner must have KJxxxxx of diamonds and could count 7 diamonds tricks, 5 hearts and the Ace of clubs.
My new fall class schedule is up. There will be four classes at Temple Sinai and one class at the Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Center. I will be teaching a 2/1 Class at Temple Sinai in addition to a new beginner class. If you have friends that are interested in learning the game please let them know about my new beginner class.
I am also interested in doing a one or two day bridge seminar in Atlanta. If anyone knows of a local country club that might be interested in hosting a seminar please give me a call at 770-354-6033.
There will be no classes this week as I will be playing the Atlanta Labor Day Regional which is held at the Holiday Inn Ravinia across from Perimeter Mall. Several students have asked about playing at the tournament and what events to play in.
If you are new to tournament play I would suggest playing in events specifically designed for newcomers. These are usually listed by masterpoint reuqirements and will show up as 5/20/50 or even 0-5 events. The link to the schedule is here
So lets look at Wednesday for example. Good events for newcomers would include the 0-5 Trophy Pairs which take place at 1:30 and 7:30 pm. Note that this is two separate events, you can enter either or both.
On Friday there is a 5/20/50 event that is also held at 1:30 and 7:30, again you can enter either or both events.
If anyone has any questions please give me a call and I hope to see you at the tournament, I can usually be found in the prize room handing out goodies.
My August/September class schedule is now out. You can see it by clicking here
I am teaaching at Temple Sinai and the Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Center. I will continue to look for additional locations for classes. Unfortuantely for now there will be no newcomer duplicate game.
Happy 4th of July. We just finished another very successful Sectional in Atlanta. There were just shy of 1000 tables in play over the course of 5 days. I played with my regular partner Mike Kovacich and we had a good time with one win and several seconds.
One very interesting hand was dealt on Saturday night in the knockouts.
I had
10
Q9
K1094
KQ10965
My left hand opponent opened with a preempt of 3. I was rooting for partner to make a takeout double, which I would pass for penalties. Unfortuantely my partner bid 4 which showed the majors. I bid 4 and it went pass, pass and then my right hand opponent doubled. I was not too happy awaiting the sight of dummy.
Q97643
AK108643
Partner was 6-7 in the majors!!!!
I ruffed the Q lead and led a spade to the J and my 10. The opponents shifted to a trump but I was able to win it, trump a spade, draw trumps and give up two spades to make 4 doubled.
About the possibility of a new club, I hope to have an annoucement in the next two weeks.
Our last DUMC Newcomer game took place today.
Congratulations to our winners:
Sharon and Audrey North/South
Sylvia and Cindy East/West
